Root Words You Should Know for the ASVAB

Knowing root words can help you on the ASVAB. Root words are word parts that serve as the base of a word. In English, one root word can be changed slightly to perform all sorts of roles — it can act as a noun, a verb, an adjective, or an adverb with just a little modification.

If you recognize a root, you can generally get an idea of what the word means, even if you’re not familiar with it. For example, if you know what the root word attach means, you can figure out what the word attachment means. If you know adherent, you can deduce what adherence means.

Here are some common roots. Memorize them. When you sit down to take the ASVAB, you’ll be glad you did.

Root

Meaning

Sample Word

anthro or anthrop

relating to humans

anthropology

bibl

relating to books

bibliography

brev

short

abbreviate

cede or ceed

go, yield

recede

chrom

color

monochrome

cogn

know

cognizant

corp

body

corporate

dict

speak

diction

domin

rule

dominate

flu or fluc

flow

influx

form

shape

formulate

fract or frag

break

fragment

graph

writing

biography

junct

join

juncture

liber

free

liberate

lum or lumen

light

illuminate

oper

work

cooperate

path or pathy

suffer, feeling

pathology

port

carry

portable

press

squeeze

repress

scrib or script

write

describe

sens or sent

feel

sentient

tract

pull

traction

voc or vok

call

revoke

When you see an unfamiliar word, try dropping a couple of letters from the beginning and/or the end of the word to see whether you recognize what’s left — the root. If so, you can make a good guess about the meaning of the word.